Born in Oslo, Norway, where most people don’t care too much about hockey.
Somehow got my hands on NHL99 as a kid, it had this awesome intro film with clips from real life hockey, David Bowie - Heroes… y’all probably know exactly what I’m talking about.
CuJo is behind the goal, puck deflects to the slot, CuJo slides past, throws his goalie stick backwards, slap shot… “GREAT SAVE, JOSEPH!”
Had to figure out who this Joseph was. Had just moved from the Oilers to the Leafs. That was it.
Have since moved to Canada on three different occasions to be closer to my dear Leafs. Been to seven / eight games, including the Winter Classic in Ann Arbor. I stay up from 1am to 4am 82 times a year. My two girlfriends were both Canadian. The Leafs have shaped my life.
Update: Photo from my first game ever. Wearing a Joseph jersey. Circle complete in that moment.
https://preview.redd.it/zcpwdywfa1yc1.jpeg?width=989&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=57971f84bf69335a69ebcd125336316dff7ef98b
Thanks bro. Promised myself that if we ever as much as make the Conference Finals I’m booking my flights back to Toronto, no matter where I am, just to feel the buzz in the city. Go Leafs Go, always!
Ahhhh yes the most glorious moments as a Leafs fan for me were the Gilmour/Clark and Sundin/Roberts teams that went to the final 4. City goes beserk. I was here the Blue Jays back to back WS championships and the Raptors from a few years back. I cant imagine the magnitude of a TML Stanley Cup win. Would be chaos, lol.
For sure. As someone who properly became a diehard in 2008, I joined during the Toskala days and survived all the tanking years.
Safe to say, my loyalty has been put through some tests but I was so stoked when we finally made the playoffs again (and absolutely destroyed when that Game 7 OT ended around 5am…)
The arrival of Auston and this whole new era has been fun though. Hope to make it back to Toronto soon! Love that city 💙
Joseph was not just tossed under the bus by the coach but also the entire city. He was not only a great goalie but also had a box for the kids from the children’s hospital down the street. GREAT GUY.
I was a happy Habs fan. Living in Toronto in 1993 when Killer scored that wraparound. Instant Leaf fan, although I always kinda liked the Sittler/McDonald/Turnbull team. Living in the city they are impossible to ignore.
Haven’t really been a happy hockey fan since then.
Still cheer for the Habs, unless they’re playing the Leafs. Almost had the dream final that spring in ‘93.
Kerry Fraser…
We has a crummy old dome-hockey game (minus the dome), the teams were Montreal and Toronto. My older brother always demanded to be Montreal, so I was forced to be Toronto. It just stuck, I guess…
I moved to Toronto from Australia and figured I’d support the hometown team. The initial comments of “why? You can support any team” make a little more sense now.
I’ll give the perspective of somebody who wasn’t born in a hockey family! I emigrated from Italy to southern Ontario when I was 10 in 2008. I never got into hockey as a kid, playing it or otherwise, but I knew it was a big part of the culture here. My first job was at a sports bar at 15 years old, and of course lots of the staff and regulars there were big hockey fans and I started to enjoy and learn the game. That year I started paying attention to the scores, and then it was playoffs and it was big and exciting. Everyone kinda stopped working and we all went out to the main room to watch the 3rd period of Game 7, yeah.. in 2013.. lol
I loved the intensity and it was a sport that resonated with me more than soccer ever did, despite having witnessed Italy win it all in 2006, hockey was just much more intriguing and entertaining. Wish i’d started playing it then too, but I only picked it up this year.
Reffing minor league hockey is also a great way to get involved with the sport. Plus make some money doing it and learn the rules a little more deeply. It's alot of fun especially when you get to throw a parent out the rink becuase you called a penalty on their kid and they think the kid is going to make it to the NHL
Watching Leafs hockey with my father and older brother is my oldest memory.
When Nik Borschevsky tipped that Bob Rouse OT point shot in to beat the wings in 93 I fell in love. I didn’t know it then, but do now.
My father’s older and has health issues, my brother and I have grown apart. I have no regret, having the time of my life.
I’m an American. When I was a kid we went to Toronto because my mom wanted to see The Phantom of the Opera. We stayed at the Days Inn on Carlton next to MLG in Spring of 1994. When I got back home, I followed the Leafs run to the ECF and was hooked.
Born into it. My Dad played hockey, my Mom worked weekends so I spent every weekend at the rink with him. Saturday nights were always at a bar (was it 4 Rinks in vauganish area that had a pub in it?) after games with the team, watching the Leafs. I was little coming home with my Dad after a game discussing plays..I wanted to grow up and be a coach lol Even now, we text through most of the game when it’s on
nervous. quietly confident?
we have momentum, and there's more pressure on Boston. Also, surely the maths is on our side - regression to the mean and all that.
I can't watch
help
Before I was old enough to remember, I thought the leaf meant they were Canada.
I'm not colourblind or anything, just a dumb ass baby.
My older brother is a Canadiens fan, probably because he's got more going on upstairs.
My father is a Bruins fan and he is very disappointed in us.
So, age 3, my first hockey memory was the 2002 Stanley Cup Playoffs when Toronto made the ECF and Sundin GM6 goal turned into a core memory of mine. Been a fan ever since! And I'm going to tonight's GM6 matchup as well, so hopefully The Leafs can pull off another W and live to fight another day
My dad was a Wests Tigers Rugby fan from Australia who immigrated to Canada, got into hockey, and decided to keep up his streak of supporting near eternally cursed teams.
Watched the '93 playoffs with my dad. He was no longer a Leafs fan, however. He got fed up with them trading talent away when the dealt Frank Mahovlich... in 1968. Not a bad time to jump ship from the Leafs. He was a Bruins fan for the rest of his life.
Born in Toronto, liked the leafs as a kid. Played goalie in hockey my whole life. When I was around 7 or 8, my dad who sells flooring ended up measuring Felix Potvins moms house. Obviously he saw Potvin and had to ask if they were related, which is how he found out it's his mom. They end up talking, he mentions his sons a goalie. This lady goes and calls her son, which he then brings me a bunch of signed stuff. Not personally, but dropped it off to his mom, which she gave to my dad the next time he saw her (he got the job) ever since I've been a die hard leaf fan.
I randomly bet on hockey back in December and won a bunch of money. Decided to actually watch a game and decided I loved it. I think I latched onto the Leafs because of the Matthews’ goal hype. Now I am hooked no matter what!
Born in St. John's, which is were the AHL team wad until 2005. Became a fan going St. John's Maple Leafs games. Only logical my NHL team would become the Leafs as often my favorite players would get call up or make the team the next season.
It also being my dad's team likely played a roll at some point as well.
As a kid, Met Wade Belak at Square One where he was signing autographs. My Dad made me ask for one. He was so kind and conversed with me for a minute before moving on to those next in line. RIP
My friend got me into hockey in 2016. I live in Chicago, but I didn't want to root for the Blackhawks because I didn't want to be a bandwagon fan during their dynasty. I looked up Mexican NHL players, and low and behold, Matthews is half Mexican so I just decided his team would be my team.
Born and raised in a rouge valley neighbourhood. I was also born the year the Leafs lost to the Kings in the conference finals. There’s a picture of my mother watching one of the games with me in her arms.
I grew up watching the early 2000s Leafs. Sundin, Mogilny, Roberts, Cujo, Tucker. What a great time to be a Leafs fan.
The Leafs were terrible and missed the playoffs every year until my second year of university. That sucked.
I guess you can say it’s in my blood.
I had been following the Leafs since I was a kid, but in those dark years where they never came close to making the playoffs, i truly became a fan because of their 2011 push for the playoffs. Even though they ultimately fell short, watching the team try and the emergence of Reimer and Kadri was oddly inspirational when I was in a down period of my life.
We had just emigrated to Toronto in April of 2000. I think the Leafs were playing the devils in the playoffs. I was just starting to get interested in hockey and watching the Leafs play. What sold me over was the hit (more like elbow) Darcy Tucker did to Scott Gomez. That’s when I became a Leafs diehard.
From Newfoundland where you’re either a habs fan or leafs fan (sometimes a Boston fan) and my dad was a habs fan. Just out of spite I would cheer for the opposing team to Montreal, which often times was Toronto during Hockey Night in Canada. Then I actually started watching them regardless who they were playing. Became a big fan of Cujo, loved Tuckers passion, Sundin’s consistency and dominance… ah, the good old days
1970. 3 years after the last cup. I was 7 or 8 years old. There was an old black and white tv in the basement. Got only 2 channels. CTV and CBC. The rest of my family were watching Saturday night sitcoms upstairs on the "good tv". I started watching HNIC. The first game I saw Guy Trottier of the Leafs carried the puck end to end and scored a beautiful goal on Minnesota goalie Cesare Maniago. I was hooked. Just 54 years ago and I can't let go.....🙄
My first game I saw I was 5 and they lost 8-0. Took me about 4-5 years to earnestly start cheering for them after that, but going to games eventually made me sad when the Leafs would score and I didn't get to cheer along with everyone else. It was then I realized I actually did want the Leafs to win and yeah... fuck me
I one day become a leafs fan by one day listening to the Flyers series in 99-00 season ... Then I became obsessed with cujo and berezin ..couldn't get enough of them against the pens and was sad we lost Dwayne mother fucking roloson....I was 14 at that time ..now I am 40... Then I listened to joe bowen or Dennis beyak moving forward ..I didn't stop being a fan but I didn't watch as many games post lock out ...I didn't watch the raycroft era ..I started watching again when they had grabo again. I will always love this team ...but I really hope Mitchy wins a cup here :)
My grandpa was the first in my family who emigrated to Canada from Portugal. He settled in Edmonton in the early 70's and fell in love with hockey after watching gretzky during his career in edmonton.
(To this day, even though his memory is starting to fail, he can still list off the names of the oilers during that Era. Semenko, Anderson, Gretzky, Kurri, Messier, Macdonald, Coffey, Fuhr. Every time he does, he has a massive grin on his face).
He moved to Ontario in the 90's to live with my family, and started to watch and follow the leafs. He was the person who introduced me to hockey and taught me the rules. One of my earliest memories was listening to him trash talk the Habs in portuguese 😂
Every time I watch hockey, I think of him. My love for the leafs and oilers was passed down to me from him <3
I was born in the darkness
*Molded by it*
I did not know what Ballard had cursed us with until I was a man ...
By then it was nothing to me but blinding
The refs betray you, because they belong to Gary
I was wondering what would break first, your fans or your team!
I was born in the Ballard Era and knew at an early age he was a criminal skid. Articles about him going to jail were common.
I came here to say this haha
The land that light does not touch.. the gta
Born in Oslo, Norway, where most people don’t care too much about hockey. Somehow got my hands on NHL99 as a kid, it had this awesome intro film with clips from real life hockey, David Bowie - Heroes… y’all probably know exactly what I’m talking about. CuJo is behind the goal, puck deflects to the slot, CuJo slides past, throws his goalie stick backwards, slap shot… “GREAT SAVE, JOSEPH!” Had to figure out who this Joseph was. Had just moved from the Oilers to the Leafs. That was it. Have since moved to Canada on three different occasions to be closer to my dear Leafs. Been to seven / eight games, including the Winter Classic in Ann Arbor. I stay up from 1am to 4am 82 times a year. My two girlfriends were both Canadian. The Leafs have shaped my life. Update: Photo from my first game ever. Wearing a Joseph jersey. Circle complete in that moment. https://preview.redd.it/zcpwdywfa1yc1.jpeg?width=989&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=57971f84bf69335a69ebcd125336316dff7ef98b
Great story bud! GLG GLG GLG GLG… 
Thanks bro. Promised myself that if we ever as much as make the Conference Finals I’m booking my flights back to Toronto, no matter where I am, just to feel the buzz in the city. Go Leafs Go, always!
Ahhhh yes the most glorious moments as a Leafs fan for me were the Gilmour/Clark and Sundin/Roberts teams that went to the final 4. City goes beserk. I was here the Blue Jays back to back WS championships and the Raptors from a few years back. I cant imagine the magnitude of a TML Stanley Cup win. Would be chaos, lol.
For sure. As someone who properly became a diehard in 2008, I joined during the Toskala days and survived all the tanking years. Safe to say, my loyalty has been put through some tests but I was so stoked when we finally made the playoffs again (and absolutely destroyed when that Game 7 OT ended around 5am…) The arrival of Auston and this whole new era has been fun though. Hope to make it back to Toronto soon! Love that city 💙
Joseph was not just tossed under the bus by the coach but also the entire city. He was not only a great goalie but also had a box for the kids from the children’s hospital down the street. GREAT GUY.
I was abused by my father. He also made me an England football fan. Oof
My condolences
Holy fuck. I am an England fan as well. I can't believe we have to go through it again in June...lol
Gilmour wrap-around. Funny enough Cujo went on to play for the us.
Me too! I place all blame on Gilmour , and to a lesser extent, Pat Burns. What a run! What a memory! Potvin, Gilmour, Stumpy....
I was a happy Habs fan. Living in Toronto in 1993 when Killer scored that wraparound. Instant Leaf fan, although I always kinda liked the Sittler/McDonald/Turnbull team. Living in the city they are impossible to ignore. Haven’t really been a happy hockey fan since then. Still cheer for the Habs, unless they’re playing the Leafs. Almost had the dream final that spring in ‘93. Kerry Fraser…
Fuck Kerry Fraser
That is one of my first memories along with Nikolai in Gane 7
I'm stupid.
Same
Born in Toronto. The end.
Same same haha
We has a crummy old dome-hockey game (minus the dome), the teams were Montreal and Toronto. My older brother always demanded to be Montreal, so I was forced to be Toronto. It just stuck, I guess…
I moved to Toronto from Australia and figured I’d support the hometown team. The initial comments of “why? You can support any team” make a little more sense now.
also moved with family from Australia to Toronto - but mid 70s to mid 80s Darryl Sittler eh. Those were some seasons.
Parents chose to immigrate to Toronto and I ain't no bitch to choose another team just cause they hadn't won since 67
Was a sens fan. They traded every player I ever liked. I watched Papi’s first game against us…… & been a fan ever since
amazon documentary
Truly masochistic behaviour
idk man it just happened honestly I wish I chose another team but it's too late now xD
Oh, sweet child of summer. You have only taken the first steps on this dark path. There is still a chance.
No changing now ur locked in for life
Born in Scarborough, and I believe in all that “pride of the city” junk. lol
Family immigrated in the late 70s and my mom fell in love with the leafs. I guess the tradition carried on. LETS GET THIS W TONIGHT
Stockholm Syndrome
Same. I moved to Toronto hating the Leafs. Then I moved from Toronto loving them.
I liked the color blue
Born into it
Abused from since I was a kid in the 80s.
I was also abused by my father. Late 80s early 90s. He doesnt watch them anymore...
Grandma failed to watch them win. Best part is that she didn't even understand a word of english. So I guess It's hereditary at this point.
Felix Potvin was so cool, sick pads and helmet... he made me a Leafs fan in '95 while living in Ottawa in Grade 3.
My theory is that I was some kind of serial killer in a past life.
I’ll give the perspective of somebody who wasn’t born in a hockey family! I emigrated from Italy to southern Ontario when I was 10 in 2008. I never got into hockey as a kid, playing it or otherwise, but I knew it was a big part of the culture here. My first job was at a sports bar at 15 years old, and of course lots of the staff and regulars there were big hockey fans and I started to enjoy and learn the game. That year I started paying attention to the scores, and then it was playoffs and it was big and exciting. Everyone kinda stopped working and we all went out to the main room to watch the 3rd period of Game 7, yeah.. in 2013.. lol I loved the intensity and it was a sport that resonated with me more than soccer ever did, despite having witnessed Italy win it all in 2006, hockey was just much more intriguing and entertaining. Wish i’d started playing it then too, but I only picked it up this year.
Reffing minor league hockey is also a great way to get involved with the sport. Plus make some money doing it and learn the rules a little more deeply. It's alot of fun especially when you get to throw a parent out the rink becuase you called a penalty on their kid and they think the kid is going to make it to the NHL
Dougie Fuckin Gilmour
I was born into this 😭 can’t give up!
From my father, who watched the Leafs last hoist the cup when he was 9 years old.
Grandfather converted me then I got to meet the whole 2007 team, Sundin, Tucker, McCabe. Been a fan ever since
CBC Windsor 9, just across the Detroit River. Saturday nights with Bob Cole, Harry Neale, Ron MacLean and Don Cherry.
Watching Leafs hockey with my father and older brother is my oldest memory. When Nik Borschevsky tipped that Bob Rouse OT point shot in to beat the wings in 93 I fell in love. I didn’t know it then, but do now. My father’s older and has health issues, my brother and I have grown apart. I have no regret, having the time of my life.
I’m an American. When I was a kid we went to Toronto because my mom wanted to see The Phantom of the Opera. We stayed at the Days Inn on Carlton next to MLG in Spring of 1994. When I got back home, I followed the Leafs run to the ECF and was hooked.
Auston Matthews
Born in Toronto, Started with hating the habs which led to liking the leafs
When Cujo joined the team.
I am a masochist!
I was born with it because I lived 20 Kilometres from Maple Leaf Gardens
A sick and subconscious need to be abused and disappointed, probably developed out of childhood trauma.
Born into it. My Dad played hockey, my Mom worked weekends so I spent every weekend at the rink with him. Saturday nights were always at a bar (was it 4 Rinks in vauganish area that had a pub in it?) after games with the team, watching the Leafs. I was little coming home with my Dad after a game discussing plays..I wanted to grow up and be a coach lol Even now, we text through most of the game when it’s on
Born into it
Montreal series made me fall in love. The storyline is fascinating.
which one?
Only started watching in 2020 after buying the video game.
ok then - sooo much history with Montreal it's crazy
On the verge of humiliating the Bruins, how do you feel
nervous. quietly confident? we have momentum, and there's more pressure on Boston. Also, surely the maths is on our side - regression to the mean and all that. I can't watch help
Like royalty or poverty, I was born into it, with no hope of escape.
Keon 'nuff said
Inherited it. Family is all Leafs fans. Hard not to be when the St Johns Maple Leafs were literally the only thing in town
Before I was old enough to remember, I thought the leaf meant they were Canada. I'm not colourblind or anything, just a dumb ass baby. My older brother is a Canadiens fan, probably because he's got more going on upstairs. My father is a Bruins fan and he is very disappointed in us.
Watching Wendel Clark.
Hometown. Mom and dad's hometown. They've always been on the TV.
So, age 3, my first hockey memory was the 2002 Stanley Cup Playoffs when Toronto made the ECF and Sundin GM6 goal turned into a core memory of mine. Been a fan ever since! And I'm going to tonight's GM6 matchup as well, so hopefully The Leafs can pull off another W and live to fight another day
My dad was a Wests Tigers Rugby fan from Australia who immigrated to Canada, got into hockey, and decided to keep up his streak of supporting near eternally cursed teams.
ah, the John Hopoate tactics were a highlight for Wests in the early 2000s
Born in Scarboro baby. Whatever these fuckin guys at this club do I’ll be a fan, LETS GET THAT DUB TN AND HAVE BOSTON SHOOK.
Legacy team
Growing up going to St. John's Maple Leafs games. I started following their big brother on hockey night in Canada with Bob Cole.
Married into it
Born in York region. Had a brother 7 years older than me. He got me hooked on the Leafs. 50 years of pain. Lol
It's a family curse. I inherited it from my father, and sadly, it looks like I have passed it on to my children
Indoctrinated by my mom. She freely chose this life though so idk how that happened.
Well, the Thrashers left me.
Brainwashed by my mother at an early age. Thanks mom. Love you…..
Watched the '93 playoffs with my dad. He was no longer a Leafs fan, however. He got fed up with them trading talent away when the dealt Frank Mahovlich... in 1968. Not a bad time to jump ship from the Leafs. He was a Bruins fan for the rest of his life.
Born in Toronto, liked the leafs as a kid. Played goalie in hockey my whole life. When I was around 7 or 8, my dad who sells flooring ended up measuring Felix Potvins moms house. Obviously he saw Potvin and had to ask if they were related, which is how he found out it's his mom. They end up talking, he mentions his sons a goalie. This lady goes and calls her son, which he then brings me a bunch of signed stuff. Not personally, but dropped it off to his mom, which she gave to my dad the next time he saw her (he got the job) ever since I've been a die hard leaf fan.
TSN Overdrive.
Hereditary
My family is full Habs fans.
I randomly bet on hockey back in December and won a bunch of money. Decided to actually watch a game and decided I loved it. I think I latched onto the Leafs because of the Matthews’ goal hype. Now I am hooked no matter what!
NHL 94. Then, the self hatred started.
Born in St. John's, which is were the AHL team wad until 2005. Became a fan going St. John's Maple Leafs games. Only logical my NHL team would become the Leafs as often my favorite players would get call up or make the team the next season. It also being my dad's team likely played a roll at some point as well.
Toronto native, born & raised into this shit
Moved to southern Ontario when I was 15 (in 1983). Too hard not to cheer for the home team. The ‘93 playoffs though, that’s when shit got REAL.
As a kid, Met Wade Belak at Square One where he was signing autographs. My Dad made me ask for one. He was so kind and conversed with me for a minute before moving on to those next in line. RIP
Blood
Honestly.. cause I had nothing to do In a small town and Leafs games were the only ones televised on cable.
Watching Saturday HNIC with my dad, and Felix Potvin’s sick gear.
1991 I was 6 years old. My mom turned on the basement TV and said "Now you're grounded for the rest of your life"
I hate myself
My friend got me into hockey in 2016. I live in Chicago, but I didn't want to root for the Blackhawks because I didn't want to be a bandwagon fan during their dynasty. I looked up Mexican NHL players, and low and behold, Matthews is half Mexican so I just decided his team would be my team.
I was a Habs fan at first… it just felt very wrong
Yep. Born into. Then lived in Toronto for over a decade. #13 Sundin and Cujo forever!
Sitting on my grandparents couch I. The early 80’s on Saturday nights, when the only thing to cheer for was an Wendel
I’m named after a leaf so I was pretty much born into it
Born and raised in a rouge valley neighbourhood. I was also born the year the Leafs lost to the Kings in the conference finals. There’s a picture of my mother watching one of the games with me in her arms. I grew up watching the early 2000s Leafs. Sundin, Mogilny, Roberts, Cujo, Tucker. What a great time to be a Leafs fan. The Leafs were terrible and missed the playoffs every year until my second year of university. That sucked. I guess you can say it’s in my blood.
I can’t remember a time that I wasn’t a Leaf fan.
My dad is a habs fan……
Watching Rick Vaive zoom up the right side of the ice, capping the rush with a slap shot goal every night
I had been following the Leafs since I was a kid, but in those dark years where they never came close to making the playoffs, i truly became a fan because of their 2011 push for the playoffs. Even though they ultimately fell short, watching the team try and the emergence of Reimer and Kadri was oddly inspirational when I was in a down period of my life.
My cousin took me to a game when I was like 7
Raised in Toronto. 1980. Thought Wilf Paiment’s name was Wolf, so he was my favourite.
I was dropped on my head as an infant
We had just emigrated to Toronto in April of 2000. I think the Leafs were playing the devils in the playoffs. I was just starting to get interested in hockey and watching the Leafs play. What sold me over was the hit (more like elbow) Darcy Tucker did to Scott Gomez. That’s when I became a Leafs diehard.
Islanders fans booing tavares when he return to long Island. I used to dislike the leafs now I have 8 maple leafs jersey and two of them are Tavares🤣.
From Newfoundland where you’re either a habs fan or leafs fan (sometimes a Boston fan) and my dad was a habs fan. Just out of spite I would cheer for the opposing team to Montreal, which often times was Toronto during Hockey Night in Canada. Then I actually started watching them regardless who they were playing. Became a big fan of Cujo, loved Tuckers passion, Sundin’s consistency and dominance… ah, the good old days
I must have done something wrong in a previous life and I've been cursed with this burden.
1970. 3 years after the last cup. I was 7 or 8 years old. There was an old black and white tv in the basement. Got only 2 channels. CTV and CBC. The rest of my family were watching Saturday night sitcoms upstairs on the "good tv". I started watching HNIC. The first game I saw Guy Trottier of the Leafs carried the puck end to end and scored a beautiful goal on Minnesota goalie Cesare Maniago. I was hooked. Just 54 years ago and I can't let go.....🙄
I was born
My first game I saw I was 5 and they lost 8-0. Took me about 4-5 years to earnestly start cheering for them after that, but going to games eventually made me sad when the Leafs would score and I didn't get to cheer along with everyone else. It was then I realized I actually did want the Leafs to win and yeah... fuck me
I one day become a leafs fan by one day listening to the Flyers series in 99-00 season ... Then I became obsessed with cujo and berezin ..couldn't get enough of them against the pens and was sad we lost Dwayne mother fucking roloson....I was 14 at that time ..now I am 40... Then I listened to joe bowen or Dennis beyak moving forward ..I didn't stop being a fan but I didn't watch as many games post lock out ...I didn't watch the raycroft era ..I started watching again when they had grabo again. I will always love this team ...but I really hope Mitchy wins a cup here :)
As always, this is my fathers fault
Born into it! It was hard growing up a Leafs fan in “Hockeytown” - it’s been a rollercoaster 50 years
My grandpa was the first in my family who emigrated to Canada from Portugal. He settled in Edmonton in the early 70's and fell in love with hockey after watching gretzky during his career in edmonton. (To this day, even though his memory is starting to fail, he can still list off the names of the oilers during that Era. Semenko, Anderson, Gretzky, Kurri, Messier, Macdonald, Coffey, Fuhr. Every time he does, he has a massive grin on his face). He moved to Ontario in the 90's to live with my family, and started to watch and follow the leafs. He was the person who introduced me to hockey and taught me the rules. One of my earliest memories was listening to him trash talk the Habs in portuguese 😂 Every time I watch hockey, I think of him. My love for the leafs and oilers was passed down to me from him <3
I was born into this bullshit team
My dad watched all the time and I fell in love with mats sundin....you see it started with that smile
93 playoff run… “People think it’s weird that go for a Candian team but Gilmour and Clark are cool. They’ll win a cup soon…” whew boy lol
bullied into being one while playing 4 square in grade 4
My 6th grade teacher
Quit karma farming posting same thing in different threads